User:Mr. Ibrahem/Prostate cancer
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prostate cancer is the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system.[7] Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, some grow relatively quickly.[2][4] The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other areas of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.[8] It may initially cause no symptoms.[2] In later stages, it can lead to difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or pain in the pelvis, back, or when urinating.[3] A disease known as benign prostatic hyperplasia may produce similar symptoms.[2] Other late symptoms may include feeling tired due to low levels of red blood cells.[2]
Prostate cancer | |
---|---|
Other names | Carcinoma of the prostate, adenocarcinoma of the prostate[1] |
Position of the prostate | |
Specialty | Oncology, urology |
Symptoms | None, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, pain in the pelvis, back, or when urinating[2][3] |
Usual onset | Age > 50[4] |
Risk factors | Older age, family history, race[4] |
Diagnostic method | Tissue biopsy, medical imaging[3] |
Differential diagnosis | Benign prostatic hyperplasia[2] |
Treatment | Active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy[3] |
Prognosis | 5-year survival rate 99% (US)[5] |
Frequency | 1.2 million new cases (2018)[6] |
Deaths | 359,000 (2018)[6] |
Factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include older age, a family history of the disease, and race.[4] About 99% of cases occur in males over the age of 50.[4] Having a first-degree relative with the disease increases the risk two to threefold.[4] Other factors that may be involved include a diet high in processed meat, red meat or milk products or low in certain vegetables.[4] An association with gonorrhea has been found, but a reason for this relationship has not been identified.[9] An increased risk is associated with the BRCA mutations.[10] Prostate cancer is diagnosed by biopsy.[3] Medical imaging may then be done to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.[3]
Prostate cancer screening is controversial.[4][11] Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing increases cancer detection, but it is controversial regarding whether it improves outcomes.[11][12][13] Informed decision making is recommended when it comes to screening among those 55 to 69 years old.[14][15] Testing, if carried out, is more reasonable in those with a longer life expectancy.[16] While 5α-reductase inhibitors appear to decrease low-grade cancer risk, they do not affect high-grade cancer risk and thus are not recommended for prevention.[4] Supplementation with vitamins or minerals does not appear to affect the risk.[4][17]
Many cases are managed with active surveillance or watchful waiting.[3] Other treatments may include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or chemotherapy.[3] When it only occurs inside the prostate, it may be curable.[2] In those in whom the disease has spread to the bones, pain medications, bisphosphonates and targeted therapy, among others, may be useful.[3] Outcomes depend on a person's age and other health problems as well as how aggressive and extensive the cancer is.[3] Most men with prostate cancer do not end up dying from the disease.[3] The 5-year survival rate in the United States is 98%.[5] Globally, it is the second most common type of cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in men.[18] In 2018, it occurred in 1.2 million men and caused 359,000 deaths.[6] It was the most common cancer in males in 84 countries,[4] occurring more commonly in the developed world.[19] Rates have been increasing in the developing world.[19] Detection increased significantly in the 1980s and 1990s in many areas due to increased PSA testing.[4] Studies of males who died from unrelated causes have found prostate cancer in 30% to 70% of those over age 60.[2]